Sitting in Films With Friends Part 1
We’re hosting a special screening of “American Fiction” about a novelist who has become disillusioned with the establishment’s exploitation of ‘Black’ entertainment rooted in overused and offensive stereotypes. Come and join us for this special screening and bring a friend! All are welcome! The Race Unity Circle will plan an in-depth exploration of the movie and the issues it raises at a future event. This night is just for fun!
Join us Thursday, February 29th at 6pm at the FDR Library & Museum for a panel discussion and viewing of the inspiring film “New York State Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Our Commission on Human Rights is hosting this free event in partnership with the NYS Division of Human Rights Hudson Valley Hate & Bias Regional Council, Dutchess County African-American Clergy Association, and the Jewish Federation of Dutchess County and they will focus on the four pillars of philosophy that Dr. King believed were essential to achieving social justice and equality: Nonviolence, Beloved Community, Justice and Hope.
Registration is required and found online.
Path Through History Weekend – Discover the people and places that shaped American history
The Path Through History program and Path Through History Weekends showcase New York State’s fascinating history. A wealth of memorable experiences awaits you—from living history museums to forts and military landmarks to the homes of presidents, legendary writers and artists, and activists who fought to end slavery and to give women the right to vote. With an unparalleled network of museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions, Path Through History takes you across the state to discover events of the past and learn how they reverberate today.
Join the River Newsroom for a roundtable discussion on new models of journalism and reimagining existing publications.
About this event:
It’s been a tough decade-plus for local media. Since 2008, US newsroom employment has fallen by 26 percent, a crisis that accelerated last year, when publications had to reduce their already meager staffs. One study estimates that journalism layoffs more than doubled in 2020, and dozens of outlets have ceased publication entirely since the start of the pandemic.
These cutbacks are hitting local media hardest. Here in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, the past few years have seen the shuttering of several longtime local newsweeklies and layoffs at larger daily papers. At the same time, the need for reliable local reporting has never been more clear—nor more urgent. Into the void of local news has flowed partisan hyperbole, unverified social media posts, and harmful disinformation. The ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the perilous threats posed by climate change, the reinvigorated struggle for social and racial equity: all of these are huge stories playing out on the community level.
Fortunately, there is a lot of energy being put toward ensuring local journalism remains alive and well. And that’s happening here, as well. In this roundtable discussion, we’ll talk with journalists and publishers who are working on new models of journalism, or reimagining existing publications to ensure they remain vital to their readers.
Speakers include:
The Poughkeepsie Public Library hosts a Media Literacy 101 workshop, which briefly touches on facts vs. opinions, bias, satire, propaganda, hoaxes/scams/rumors, advertising, editorial cartoons, how to verify sources, and the importance of being a good digital citizen. Guest presenter Mary Miller is Education Services Director with New York News Publishers Association in Albany.
